Hidatsa Shield Figure bean
$4.00
(Phaseolus vulgaris)
A large, beautiful bean from the Hidatsa people who lived along the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. Mentioned in Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden, an excellent book on Hidatsa agriculture from 1917, this bean is a bush with runners which would probably be happiest climbing some neighbouring corn plants. Soft and creamy when cooked, with a mild, delightful flavour.
In stock
Plant after last frost; soil must be warm or seed will rot. If growing on corn, wait to plant until corn is about 3” tall, or two weeks after corn is planted. Darker coloured seeds usually germinate better in cooler soil. Sow 1” deep. Space bush beans 2-4” apart and pole beans in pairs 8” apart, with 8” between pairs if climbing twine, or in groups of 3-4 around single poles 1’ apart. Pick green beans before seeds start swelling, shelly beans when seeds are full size but before pods dry, and dry beans when pods are fully dry; seed must be dry enough to not dent with a fingernail for storage. Dry beans can be further dried on a tarp, then threshed by dancing on them and winnowing away the chaff.